Herpes Cold Sore Symptoms

Many people do not know exactly when or how they contracted Herpes Simplex Virus 1, so at the first outbreak, they may not know which symptoms to look for that indicate a cold sore is coming on.

Cold sores are caused by Herpes Simplex Virus 1, and are also referred to as fever blisters. They first appear 3 to 10 days after exposure and can last for up to 3 weeks. The virus then remains in the body forever, and repeated outbreaks are triggered by several factors.

Continue reading »

Causes of Cold Sores on Lips

Have you had cold sores on your lips in the past, or do you think you might be
getting one? Well you’re not alone. In fact, up to 90 percent of all Americans have
the cold sore virus and 55 million have the recurring symptoms known as cold sores.

The lips are the most common place for cold sores to appear, but they can
occasionally occur on the nostrils, chin, or fingers. What, you may ask, are the
causes of cold sores on lips? Why do they develop in such an embarrassing and
obvious place?

Continue reading »

Cold Sore Causes and Cures

When people refer to “curing” a cold sore, what they really mean is preventing outbreaks. The good news is preventing outbreaks is achievable!  Once the cold sore virus has been contracted, it stays in your system forever, but don’t worry. There are steps you can take to keep the virus dormant to prevent breakouts and visibly “cure” your cold sores.

Cold sore causes

Cold sores are caused by a virus called Herpes simplex virus type one. The virus is passed from contact with another person who has an active cold sore. It is important to remember that cold sores are contagious. The virus can be spread through kissing, sharing eating utensils, razors, and towels, and any other way that puts a person into contact with an active cold sore. The greatest risk of infection is from the time you can first see the cold sore, until the cold sore has dried up and become a scab. In fact, it is possible in some cases for the virus to be spread even after the skin has healed.

Preventing a cold sore outbreak

Once you have been infected with the cold sore virus, it stays dormant in your body until the next cold sore attack. A cold sore can be brought on by a host of factors including stress, fatigue, exposure to the sun, and a weakened immune system. You will want to avoid these factors when possible to keep yourself from experiencing a cold sore attack.

Additionally, there are foods rich in lysine (an essential amino acid found in proteins) that have been known to be effective in preventing the outbreak of cold sores. These foods include beef, fish, chicken, milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs. Many fruits such as apples, apricots, mangoes, apricots, pears and others contain lysine as well and if regularly included in your diet can prevent cold sore breakouts.

Cold sores will clear up without treatment within about two weeks, however, if you recognize cold sore symptoms early, you can start curing them right away.

Cold sore cures

Once you have a cold sore outbreak, it is vital to initiate treatment at the earliest stage, once the initial itching or burning symptoms are first detected to prevent things from getting worse.  Common cold sore cures range from using topical medications and oral antiviral medicines, to natural remedies. Taking an over the counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin, or using cold or hot compressions will help ease the discomfort. Finally, it is important to avoid picking at your blister and making it worse, but instead, give it time to heal. While most sores are cured on their own, it is important to see your doctor if your cold sores don’t heal on their own within two weeks, if your symptoms are severe, or if your cold sores appear frequently.

Symptoms for Cold Sores

Do you think you might be getting a cold sore? It is often difficult to tell if a cold sore is coming on before that painful, red blister appears. There are, however, some symptoms for cold sores you can look for so you can start your treatment before the cold sore even appears.

Do you have the cold sore virus?

First of all, to get a cold sore you must have contracted the cold sore virus. The cold sore virus can be contracted through coming into contact with a person who has a cold sore, through kissing, sharing lip balm, sharing utensils, and any other way that the cold sore comes directly into contact with you. If you have come into contact with a person with a cold sore, you may have contracted the virus. If you believe you may have contracted the virus, you will want to know what cold sore symptoms to look for to determine if you should expect (and try to prevent) an outbreak. Signs and symptoms may not start for up to 20 days after exposure, however, it’s possible for your first cold sore breakout to appear within a week of exposure.

Symptoms for Cold Sores

It is possible to detect early cold sore symptoms up to one or two days prior to a cold sore outbreak. These early symptoms are called the prodrome, which is an early symptom or set of symptoms that may indicate an outbreak before the specific symptoms occur. Detecting these early symptoms means that you can start treatment, and start fighting your cold sores before they ever appear! These early may symptoms include pain, burning, itching, tingling, an unusual sensation around your lips, and even numbness. These symptoms often precede the blisters by one to two days.

Treatments for cold sore symptoms

If you detect these symptoms for cold sores early, you are in luck. There are many over-the-counter cold sore medications that will relieve the pain, burning, or itching. Explain your symptoms to the pharmacist, and he/she will be able to direct you to the appropriate medication to address your specific symptoms.

Before applying the topical medication, be sure to wash your hands, face and lips using warm water and washing soap. The medication will be most effective when applied to a clean area. After washing, apply the medicine on the lips and the surrounding area, using your finger, a Q-tip, or a cotton swab. Once you have applied the medicine, try not to touch or lick your lips. This may cause the medicine to rub off, making it less effective, and increasing the risk of the cold sore spreading.  Administer the medicine as directed (typically several times per day) and be sure to wash your hands with soap and warm water after each time you touch the cold sore or apply medicine.

Finally, once you detect and diagnose your cold sore symptoms, be sure to start your treatment right away. Beginning treatment at the earliest stage of a cold sore will not only get you relief, but will prevent things from getting worse.